Yankees Rumors: Twins Could Trade Francisco Liriano

With six pitchers vying for five spots in the Twins starting rotation, one possible solution is trading Francisco Liriano. Speaking to team officials recently, I’ve been surprised how open they are to this possibility, but the logic makes sense.

Liriano, 27, can become a free agent after the 2012 season. Coming off a resurgent year, he might never have a higher trade value.

One thing is clear: The Twins don’t plan to sign him long term. Last weekend, they avoided arbitration with a one-year, $4.3 million deal. From what I’ve heard, their long-term talks went nowhere, with Liriano’s camp hinting it wanted a three-year, $39 million contract.

The Yankees have already checked into trading for Liriano once this offseason so this is a bit interesting. This wouldn’t be an easy thing to pull off though.

Is that really worth it? Liriano has a decent injury history and is just two years away from free agency where the Yankees could potentially get him for just money. They’re likely going to have to pay him a lot even if they trade for him so it might just be better to wait it out.

Waiting it out would not only save them prospects, but it would answer a lot of questions about Liriano. He’s already had Tommy John surgery and other problems. His delivery is still questionable and he’s only really had one good season. By waiting a year or two, the Yankees might end up paying him a little bit more, but those questions would likely be answered.

It might even be better if the Yankees waited until the July trade deadline before making a move here. That way they would get a chance to see if some of their young pitchers are ready and would have more time to evaluate Liriano.

What do you think? Should the Yankees make a big push for him now? Or is waiting the right thing to do? If you are in favor of a trade, just how much would you feel comfortable giving up for Liriano?

About Rob Abruzzese

Rob Abruzzese created Bronx Baseball Daily in 2008 just before graduating from Brooklyn College. He currently serves BBD as its editor and works as a reporter at the Brooklyn Daily Eagle. Follow Rob on Twitter @RobAbruzzese.

Agreed on everything except with the throw in Joba part. Why would you "throw" in a 25 year old prospect that throws 98 MPH with solid numbers in his young career? Is it personal? Based on what are you giving up on Joba?

I second The Captain on this one. I think we need a Liriano to have a good shot at the playoffs this season. A package built around Betances would make sense — if the Twins would bite. I wouldn’t want to give up much more.
The alternative is to muddle along this year and accept that we may not make the playoffs, see which of our prospects develops, and then attack in 2012.
Maybe not that’s not the Yankee Way, though …

You win for now. Now for 2 years. If they can hold onto montero and the best pitching prospect I say go for it. Liriano currently would be the best option the yanks have seen so far this winter after cliff lee. That’s my take.

I say go for him but don't give up the future. Which also means don't trade Jaba. The Yankees made him a head case. As a starter he throws 88; out of the pen 98. Yanks need to fix his head not his arm.

For the record, it is not true that as a starter he throws 88 or as a reliever he throws 98. That is an extreme exaggeration. The real story is that before his shoulder injury in 2008 he threw 97-98 since his shoulder injury he's more like 94-96. That's all injury and isn't anything mental related to starting vs relieving.

I don't know about the rest of you…but that is a ridiculous & loser's mentality…but hey, I guess everyone's entitled to their opinion. You don't carry a $200M+ payroll & be content with missing the playoffs. Virtually every Yankees fan has been B&M'n about the pending rotation ever since Lee affectionately turned a middle finger to NY. And now a front of the rotation type of starter (potentially) becomes available, who also happens to be a left-hander & under team control for 2 yrs at around $10-11M, and now the same ppl who have been whining for the past 2 months are now squabbling over whether or not it's worth giving up a few PROSPECTS. Now I understand that there are always limits, and if making this deal happen requires Montero or more than 1 of the B's, than thnx but no thnx. But if the Yankees have a chance to pick up a starter that's the caliber of Liriano, and they can do it at the cost of 1 of the B's (preferably not Banuelos), an additional top 10 PROSPECT & maybe another mid-level PROSPECT (who virtually never "makes it" to the Bigs with the way the Yankees operate)…it seems like a No-Brainer to me. It's like someone who's drowning & looking for a lifevest…just to complain about the color of it when thrown to them. C'mon now…this IS The Yankees. They EXPECT to Win another Trophy Every Year. That's what defines a Champion…& separates them from those who don't.

Unfortunately, teams don’t win every year. It’s great that the Yanks, since 1995, have only missed one playoff and have ruined us. But the win at all costs mentality that was in vogue in the 1980s also led to the 1989-1992 debacles. The trading of the Drabek’s, Buhners, McGees, McGriffs and Tewksburys. I wouldn’t mind Liriano but at what cost? Liriano did have TJ surgery. His durability is a “?”, especially since 2010 is the ONLY year he started 25 or more games and gave over 150 IP. Many people wanted to dump Cano, Hughes & Joba for Santana a couple of years ago. I’m glad the Yanks held on to them. It meant not making it in 2008, but all three were there and contributed in 2009, when they won it all. Besides, getting Santana would have meant not getting CC. Sometimes patience is a virtue. Sometimes you do sacrifice one year in order to ensure the next ten. See if Liriano’s price drops. Don’t rush into it.

Don't swallow everything they feed you. You can't win every year in baseball. Players get old and quality replacement players might not be available right away. In that scenario a team must have bridge years and wait for a prospect or two to come up and help them. Or when a game changing FA is available. 200 million payroll doesn't mean that it was invested in the best of the best players. They have some long and expensive contracts. If Liriano wasn't such a injury risk I would say do it. But to give up top prospects for a guy who might come in a get injured right away it doesn't make sense. Hold on to the elite prospects.

I’m with you, Rob. Although Liriano does pique my interest, I wonder what the cost in prospects would be for someone who a) has given 25 or more starts just once in his career, and b) has qualified for the ERA title (162 or more IP) just once.

I would agree that it wouldn’t kill me, but at the same time I wouldn’t be happy with that result, given the team as a whole.

Even with the current rotation issues, this is still a team that can compete for a title in 2011.

I would rather see them try to do both, win in 2011 and build for 2012. And by trying to work the Noesis, Phelpses, and Warrens of the world into the back of the rotation and maybe catching fire, the Yanks have that option.

Liriano would be nice to have in pinstripes but the Yankees would have to part with someone. I could see them packaging David Adams who is a decent prospect. I’m not sure what the Yankees plans are with him.

So we trade away Matusi after his MVP performance in the WS. Who do we get, Nick Johnson the most injury plagued player the last several years. So what happens; he gets hurt –SURPRISE-out for the season.

You know what our rotating DH hit for 2010? 249 AVG 49 RBI’s (.baseball-reference.com). This tells us that the DH is not for every player. Some guys do very well in it; some suck!!!

Matsui had his usual streaky season but wound up with 21 homers and 84 RBI’s in what a 140 games.

This is not crazy thinking. The yanks brought back Bobby Mercer back in the day, they can do the same for Matsui. Keep him as the DH because YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO GET (280-300 BA / 20 -30 hr/ what 285 to 300 BA).

Think about it. If at the end of 2011 the Yanks DH gives them Matsui’s type numbers what is there to complain about.

FYI: Yankee fans are all over the world!!! I am retired from the USA and serving in Afghanistan as a DOD Civ. The Afghannies cannot get enough of Yankee clothing. Now these are folks that only recently got radios in their villages, but they all know about our Yanks!!!! Incredible.